Recently I was invited to contribute to an article for U.S. News on How to Avoid PMI on a Mortgage with Less Than 20% Down by Gina Freeman.
The article includes various strategies on how to avoid private mortgage insurance.
Private mortgage insurance is typically required when someone is putting down less than 20% for a home purchase or if someone has higher than an 80% loan-to-value if they’re refinancing a property and are using a conventional mortgage.
There are many ways private mortgage insurance (pmi) can be paid for, including a lump sum “single premium” as a closing cost or as part of the monthly mortgage payment.
There is also “split premium” which is a combo of a single premium and monthly and lender paid.
The seller may even be able to contribute towards private mortgage insurance if negotiated in the real estate contract and the loan meets required guidelines for someone who’s putting down less than 20% for a home purchase or if someone has higher than an 80% loan-to-value if they’re refinancing a property and are using a conventional mortgage. [Read more…]
Twas the season of spending with American’s splurging over $1100 on gifts this holiday season. Credit card interest rates average around 24% with 
18 years ago, 
Today, much deserved gratitude will be shared to our Veterans. We honor their courage, sacrifice and service that allow us to have our freedom.
Property values across King County have climbed for years—great news if you’re building equity, but a real problem if you’re a senior on a fixed income watching your tax bill climb right along with them. Every year, longtime homeowners get priced out of the houses they’ve lived in for decades, not because they can’t afford the mortgage, but because they can’t keep up with rising property taxes. 
